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"To Someone Who's Been Like a Mother to Me."

I'll be the first to admit, I'm usually the worst when it comes to sending cards. Someone's birthday? They can expect a card from me at least a week later. Christmas? Sure, you'll get my card in time, if you're lucky, to ring in the new year.

So with today being Mother's Day, I tried to be ahead of the curve by buying a card for the occasion about a month ago. (Especially in light of last year's most lovely post-visit exchange with my mother) There's a cute little "1/2-off greetings cards" store a few miles from work, so I made a pit-stop during lunch one day. While I was perusing the selection, I came across a nice one that read, "Happy Mother's Day to Someone Who's Been Like a Mother to Me." I decided to pick it up for Tina's Mom since she really has, well, been like a Mother to me. Since the day I met Tina's family, her Mother has included me for all occasions and gatherings, so I figured the card would be a nice gesture.

Naturally, the fact that I purchased the cards way in advance didn't aid in my mailing them in a timely manner. No way. Come this past Thursday afternoon, I remembered I hadn't sent out my Mother's Day cards. Alarmed, I checked my watch. It was 12:30, so I had 30 minutes to make the 1:00 mail pick-up.

At the same time that I grabbed the two cards out of my bag, I realized that I only had one postage stamp. Ah well, I thought to myself, Tina's going to her Mom's on Sunday, so I'll just give the one for her Mother to hand-deliver.

I quickly signed my name and sealed the card for my Mother, then hurried down to the mailbox at 12:45. Whew! Can't say I forgot this year.

This morning as Tina got ready to head to her Mother's house (I declined going along because I've been present for every family event in the last 3 months, so I wanted Tina to have some family time of her own), I remembered the card I'd had for her Mother in my bag.

"Hang on," I said. "I have a card for your Mom." I explained the card I'd selected.

"Oh, that's right," she sighed. "I forgot a card. I'll need to stop on the way."

"Sorry," I said as I rummaged through my messenger bag. "I would have picked one up for you, but you're normally much better about these things than I am."

I pulled out the card and a pen. As I was about to open it, my eyes skimmed the cover. Then my heart sank. "For a Special Mom on Mother's Day," the card read.

Groaning, I handed the card to Tina. "Here's your Mother's Day card," I said.

"What?" she took the card from me, puzzled.

"If my Mom was pissed last year, she must have been spewing venom this year," I said. "Can you imagine what my Mother's face must have looked like when she opened that card?? 'To Someone Who's Been Like a Mother to Me.' She probably thought it was on purpose, knowing her."

Tina laughed. "I'm sure it was fine."

"You don't know my Mother," I muttered. Then I laughed. What's done is done. "Tell your Mom I had the right intention at least."

Ugh. When I called to say "Happy Mother's Day" earlier, I was greeted by the answering machine, much to my relief. I can only hope she didn't read the card that closely... but somehow I'm sure she probably did.